History is filled with auspicious beginnings and ignominious finishes. Do you remember that Joe Montana’s last seasons were as a Kansas City Chief, rather than as a 49er? Most people don’t. Or, that O.J. Simpson, who had a brilliant career as a Bill, ended up with some pretty mediocre seasons in San Francisco (on second thought, O.J.’s end was even more of a train wreck, wasn’t it?). From Scripture, how about King Hezekiah, one of the greatest in a long line of pretty mediocre kings of Israel? When God told him he was done, heading home to meet his Maker, he whined like a baby, and begged God to give him a few more years. God was merciful, and Hezekiah responded by showing Israel’s enemies the secret location of all its gold and silver. When God told him he had blown it, and messed things up for his ancestors, his response? “Well, at least I won’t be around to see it.” A very unimpressive ending.
Anyone can start well. It’s easy to look good coming out of the blocks. That’s why races are 100-1500 meters. They reward patience and perseverance. God knows we need perseverance, as well. It’s why our lives are never easy, why He consistently gives us trials. He even asks us to find joy in those trials because, “the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And, let perseverance have its perfect result: that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” Whether the race is on the track or in life, it requires the ability to hang in there, to keep moving forward, to finish strong and well.
That’s why the season of the school year stretching from spring break to the last day is so wonderful. If every school year has its rhythm and pace, after spring break that rhythm is like death metal–fast and relentless. Furthermore, you’re tired. Your kids are tired. Trust me, the teachers are tired. This year, I have a senior who has been at Grace since junior kindergarten. There is no one more challenging to motivate than a post-spring break senior. No one. The dog shark Coach Dobbs’ class dissected in biology yesterday is easier to revive and motivate. I get it.
But, we as Generation Xers have this unfortunate tendency to spare our children the sometimes unpleasant task of finishing well. In thinking, we are promoting their happiness; we give them a pass on perseverance. When school work gets hard, or friends turn on them, or they face challenges, or things just get monotonous and wearisome, we let them go to a different school, or get a different friend group, or even just let them out of class. We’re hesitant to simply say, “I’m sorry, I know it’s tough. Let’s just keep on pushing to the end.” I don’t know why, whether we’re afraid they won’t like us, or because they wear us out because we lack perseverance ourselves.
Whatever the reason, if we do it long enough, we teach our kids to hop- hop from one thing to another whenever contentment fades. Pretty soon that translates to majors and colleges and jobs and marriages, and all the stuff that really matters in life. It translates to strong starts and weak finishes, Johnny ending up living back at home until he’s 35, and most of that falls squarely on our shoulders.
Fortunately, that’s not how our generous, loving God deals with us. He routinely allows life in a Genesis 3 world to happen to us, forcing us not to quit, but to “play through.” Somebody has to put food on the table, or take care of Mom or Dad when they’re sick, right? We can’t just walk away from the job. Through those experiences, God makes us risers, and stick-ers, and stay-ers. Perseverers. And perseverers are those who Scripture says take whatever this Genesis 3 world throws at them, and considers it joy.
So, if that’s how our all-knowing, all-loving God treats us, why would we treat our kids any differently? In fact, wouldn’t it be unconsciously unloving to throw the escape hatch every time they whine, especially to avoid the short-term hassle we face of telling them “no,” or “not yet,” or “stick with it?”
Strong workers, strong husbands, strong wives, strong parents, and future dedicated disciples of Jesus Christ start right now, with finishing well.
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